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Schneider Electric is leading the way in addressing climate change, making strides through innovative solutions and partnerships.
Two key areas where the company is making a real impact are its drive to achieve carbon neutrality using advanced technologies and its efforts to enhance supply chain sustainability through collaboration.
Pushing for Carbon Neutrality with Innovative Solutions
In response to the growing climate crisis, Schneider Electric has set ambitious goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2025—five years ahead of its original schedule.
This reflects the company’s awareness of the urgency to act now. By utilizing its EcoStruxure™ technology, Schneider is enabling businesses and communities to reduce their carbon footprints in meaningful ways.
EcoStruxure™ is a digital platform that integrates IoT-enabled solutions across sectors such as energy management and automation.
It boosts operational efficiency while helping customers make smarter energy decisions. In 2021, Schneider Electric’s solutions helped avoid 84 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
This shows how innovation can create tangible environmental benefits.
The need for action is underscored by global statistics: around 3.6 billion people live in areas highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Seven of the ten countries most at risk are in Africa, making Schneider Electric’s focus on delivering sustainable energy solutions vital for resilience in these regions.
Through its Access to Energy program, the company aims to provide electricity to 80 million people by 2030 while training over one million underprivileged individuals by 2025.
This initiative addresses both energy poverty and long-term sustainable development.
By embedding sustainability into its core strategy, Schneider Electric demonstrates that tackling climate change can go hand-in-hand with economic growth.
The company’s emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency aligns with global efforts to limit temperature rises and reduce the effects of climate change.
As Peter Herweck, CEO, points out, “Climate change is the single biggest threat to the health and well-being of our society.” This understanding drives the company’s efforts to inspire others to take bold steps toward sustainability.
Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Supply Chain Sustainability
While technological innovation is essential for achieving carbon neutrality, Schneider Electric recognizes that collaboration is equally important.
In 2021, the company launched its Zero Carbon Project, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of its top 1,000 suppliers by 50% by 2025.
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This initiative highlights the importance of working with suppliers as partners in the sustainability journey.
Ifeanyi Odoh adds, “One of my commitments since taking up the task of leading East Africa is to work closely with our partners from every corner to ensure our ecosystem is examined and served with the care and attention it deserves.” This reflects his dedication to fostering collaboration that enhances local sustainability efforts, aligning perfectly with Schneider Electric’s broader goals.
The Zero Carbon Project focuses on building supplier capabilities, especially since many of them are at different stages in reducing their carbon emissions.
Around 70% of these suppliers had never measured their carbon emissions before joining the project.
Schneider Electric provides tools and resources to help them accurately track emissions and set achievable reduction targets.
This collaborative approach fosters a culture of sustainability across Schneider Electric’s supply chain.
By sharing best practices and offering sustainability consulting services, the company empowers its suppliers to develop their own carbon reduction strategies.
Mourad Tamoud, Schneider Electric’s Chief Supply Chain Officer, explains, “Many organizations find reducing their supply chain emissions to be one of the most challenging parts of decarbonizing.” By helping suppliers overcome these challenges, Schneider strengthens its own sustainability efforts while contributing to broader industry-wide changes.
